Friend Food For Thought

It is my dear friend's birthday today. She is 33 (but, I won't name names!!!) and we have spent the better part of 5 years building the wonderful sparkly fast talking slow running thing we call a friendship together.
I have learned so much from her and the many other women I have crossed paths with over the years. I like to think that we have reached a time in our life when age tips the scales of advantage in our favor (never mind the wrinkles and saggy butts, etc.).
Aging. I have stood on every side of this topic and analyzed it from various angles over my 31 years of life: at age 12 I was sure that life was really happening at 16 and when I hit 16 I knew things were going to be totally awesome when I turned 18. Always looking ahead to the older years I was. Then, my twenties were spent KNOWING that this was the ultimate decade, where it all happened and I was finally living it and knowing it all at the same time. Sure, my twenties were littered with a few stupid decisions and even more stupid hair styles but all in all, a lot of life and learning happened in those short 10 years. Oh yeah, and that's where my best friends come in. The most amazing, influential, powerful and intelligent women entered, stage right and we have all managed this crazy show of friendship along our path of life. And here, in our thirties, we have retained the beauty and spunk of younger years, the worldly knowledge of an older self, and the ability to reflect on past, present and future with acceptance and appreciation.
These women are each strong individuals who bring spicy opinions and individual talents to the table. I like to think of us on the set of The View, clutching our coffee mugs and giggling about the latest diaper blowout, chopping down the political campaigns, and exchanging organic cocktail recipes while a whole audience laughs along with us.
A few years ago we really did all sit together once a week, with coffee mugs (or cocktails) and chat it up. Then baby season arrived and the gatherings were less frequent. Life took another turn and some of us moved and more of us had a second child and the set of The View gathered more dust sitting empty these days. But phone calls and email have proved to be a fantastic means of a life line through these busy and exciting years of our lives.
And the best part is that those friendships have stood the test of time, distance and children. And they remain like a classic pair of black heels in our wardrobe, always at the ready in a time of need, a confident accessory that adds a little sparkle to our image, perfectly perfect in any situation.
Despite the added wrinkles and saggy boobs, the ever multiplying little gremlins that keep popping out when someone drinks the water, or the miles that separate us, the friendships remain floating in a sea of countless happy memories. A necessary constant in a life filled with change.
So many thanks to ALL of the wonderful people I am lucky enough to call my friends. And I raise a glass to every friendship in the world because it is the most cherished gift one could give or receive. Whether you share one or many, friends are the glue that keeps our sanity from slipping away.
And Happy Birthday, V. You have such a wonderful way about you, and I cherish every phone chat, every memory, and the perfect friendship I share with you. And don't worry about being 33, you are more gorgeous than Elisabeth Hasselbeck, smarter than Barbara, and nobody snortles cuter than you, girl. Happy Birthday!

Comments

hpal said…
G-as a new reader to your blog, I cannot put together intelligently yet how I feel about it and I could never gather the words the way you can anyway! The best I can describe it at this point (and I have never been great at descriptions) is that it is almost like girlfriend therapy and also extremely entertaining. I envy that you have such an awesome outlet as I haven't found a great outlet yet to channel my energy through. Even more so, that it is so well put, so entertaining to read, so "nail on the head"!
Okay, so I warned you I am bad at descriptions.
I guess I should just say - thank you for a wonderful blog!!!
hpal said…
G-as a new reader to your blog, I just have to say thank you! Although I am so envious at having such a creative outlet to channel energy (I still have yet to find that for myself), I so thoroughly enjoy reading your postings! You hit things right on the head and your "girlfriend" style is so entertaining! I hope this brings as much pleasure to you as it might to others! Have a fantastic weekend!